WiN eMiLy GiFFiN'S HeaRT oF THe MaTTeR!

Win an Autographed Copy of Emily Giffin's Heart of the Matter!

Emily's books ARE beautiful, definitely inside and out. From the very first time I laid my eyes on Something Borrowed and the embossed, glittery wedding ring and that rich pastelly pink cover in a Barnes & Nobles, I knew I had found my favorite author. Even before reading her words, even before seeing her author photo, or discovering that she grew up where I live (or at least where I live for the next 24 days).

Queer as it sounds, that is the truth – I actually remember THE moment I saw THAT book in THAT particular B&N and the feelings I had when I saw Something Borrowed (which is now being made into a major motion picture starring some very major actors including Kate Hudson, John Krasinski – swoon! – and Ginnifer Goodwin), and I can’t say I keep in my memory feelings like this about all the books I buy. And, I buy a TON of books.

Then I read it, and then I read Something Blue, and then I met Emily at a reading, and bravely asked during the Q&A what one would have to do to get the advanced reader’s copy of Baby Proof she held in her hands at that podium that very night.

“I’ll mail it to you,” she said.

And you know what? She did. She mailed THAT exact copy to me. She is that kind of awesomeness. She kept her word, and I’d like to say we have become friends. I’ve seen her out at other events, and have had the incredible pleasure of having dinner and margaritas with her. She even sends me sweet notes and darling Christmas cards of her children that I covet.

She is such a good, kind-hearted person, that if you ever get a chance to go to one of her readings, do so, because it will be one of the most fun, inspiring nights ever (especially if you’re a fan, reader and writer!). I’ll be seeing her in a couple of weeks, two nights before I move to Arizona, in fact, and I don’t care if I still have half a house to pack up or a ton of other stuff to do, she means that much that I’m NOT missing her reading of Heart of the Matter!

I’ve done some fun contests for her books in the past, and in honor of Emily’s new book Heart of the Matter, coming out on Tuesday, May 11, I have another one coming your way NOW! Thanks to Emily, I’ll be giving away TWO signed copies here on MaNiC MoMMy this week!

You know the drill – leave me a message — something really good – preferably about how much you love Emily’s books or even if you’ve never read one of her books (WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ ONE YET?) but are dying to, tell me how badly you want to win. Of course, the drawing will be random, and chosen on Monday, May 10!

So, get to the comment section! And Emily, thank you so much for the gift of telling beautiful stories that resonate with women everywhere! If I get a large enough response in the comments, I might even get the MaNiC kids together and do a Booking With Manic video drawing to announce the winners for this one!

Here’s what I thought of Heart of the Matter, and of course, as with all of Emily’s books, I couldn’t put it down, and as with all of her books, they just keep getting better and better!

In Emily Giffin’s latest book, Heart of the Matter, she once again tackles a delicate subject matter in a way that draws the reader in until the very last page. We meet Tessa Russo and her doctor-husband Nick in a seemingly perfect marriage with two perfect children. Yet when Valerie Anderson’s young son is injured in a fire, and plastic surgeon Nick comes to the rescue, not only is young Charlie affected by his bedside manner and charm, but so is Valerie.


The draw of Emily’s writing is that she takes a taboo subject, and twists it in a way to make the reader feel compassion toward every single one of her characters, no matter what the situation, or what kind of wrong they are doing.


While there is a love triangle going on in HOTM – an obvious attraction, physically and emotionally between Nick and Valerie – there is also a deep married love between Tessa and Nick, although something definitely has shifted in the years during their marriage. Can they get that back? Do they want it back? And even though Nick chooses to be unfaithful to Tessa, as a reader, you’ll find yourself feeling compassion for what he is going through. While I read, I wasn’t sure who I wanted him to be with. Emily has a way for making it impossible to find a ‘bad guy’ in her novels.


Surprise characters make an appearance in Heart of the Matter and I couldn’t help but feel like old friends were visiting! I loved this part very much and felt a sense of “Aww, how very cool is that!” when I discovered this very well kept secret! Readers will LOVE this ‘little gift’ that Emily offers up!


Heart of the Matter is a completely satisfying novel; one that will make the reader wonder about the frailty of all relationships - who does the pushing and who does the pulling? Is Tess purposely shoving her spouse away, unhappy with herself and trying to find a happiness that might not exist? Is either party the cause or the blame? You may ask yourself, “is a one-time sex act worse than a long-time love affair,” and if you had to answer these questions, would you rather your husband have a meaningless one-night stand without attachment; would you easily forgive, be able to forget, and let go?


And with the divorce rate so high, are these the type of questions that many of us will have to face as we navigate our way through relationships, marriages, the stress of jobs, family and children?


Emily Giffin brings the subject of infidelity to us in a heartfelt and touching story, with compassion and grace, only as Emily can do.

To follow all the details of Emily’s book tour and movie news, check out http://www.emilygiffin.com/.

And right now, head on over the the comment section, leave a note on why you love Emily’s books, or why you want to win, or why you came to this blog, anything will do, and you’ll be entered to win one of TWO signed copies of Emily Giffin’s Heart of the Matter! Please make sure to leave an email address in the comment section and also check back as winners will be announced on Monday, May 10!

PeaCe uP!